Real life stories highlight human rights pressures on Human Rights Defenders Day

The Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) publishes four personal experiences on Human Rights Defenders Day by highlighting the impact of pressures on economic, social and cultural rights in Scotland.

Anne, Derek, Nada and Shamus share their powerful stories to illustrate what economic, social and cultural rights look like in their daily lives.

Anne from Castlemilk in Glasgow, describes the combined impact of food insecurity, the lack of access to local shops and overstretched health services. She highlights rising living costs, long NHS waiting times and reliance on community food support.

Derek’s story focuses on the barriers faced by disabled people, including difficulties accessing suitable housing and workplace adjustments following a brain injury. Despite returning to employment, he reports ongoing access failures that affect his ability to work.

Nada who sought asylum in Scotland after fleeing Iraq, describes her insecure immigration status, overcrowded housing and financial instability despite years of residence.

Shamus a Scottish Gypsy Traveller, details the long-term effects of discrimination linked to the “Tinker Experiments” including unsafe living conditions, poor health outcomes and lack of redress. His testimony raises ongoing concerns about housing, cultural rights and equal treatment.

The four stories form part of the SHRC’s wider 2025 State of the Nation report on the protection of economic, social and cultural rights in Scotland.

Professor Angela O’Hagan, Chair of the SHRC, said:

“We are very grateful to Shamus, Nada, Derek and Anne: rights holders who so generously shared their stories to illustrate what economic, social and cultural rights look like in their daily lives. These stories, alongside the SHRC’s analysis of the report’s ten example aspects of ESC rights, highlight a number of areas where the State – the Scottish Government and public bodies – must do more to remedy past and current failures to realise rights.”

Read the 2025 State of the Nation report. Available as a PDF, an accessible Word document, an Easy Read and in BSL.

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Notes to editors:

  1. The SHRCis Scotland’s human rights watchdog. It is an independent public body, created by the Scottish Commission for Human Rights Act 2006, to protect and promote the human rights of all people in Scotland. Find out more on our website.
  2. These stories are excerpts from the SHRC's State of the Nation 2025 report on economic, social and cultural rights in Scotland.
  3. Human Rights Defenders Day is observed on 9 December, commemorating the adoption of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders in 1998, and recognising the vital roles of individuals who promote and protect human rights.